Electromyography (EMG)

Electromyography (EMG)

What is Electromyography (EMG)?

Electromyography (EMG) measures muscle response or electrical activity in response to a nerve’s stimulation of the muscle. The test is used to help detect neuromuscular abnormalities.

How the EMG test performed?

During the test, one or more small needles (also called electrodes) are inserted through the skin into the muscle. The electrical activity picked up by the electrodes is then displayed on an oscilloscope (a monitor that displays electrical activity in the form of waves). An audio-amplifier is used so the activity can be heard.EMG measures the electrical activity of muscle during rest, slight contraction and forceful contraction.

Which diseases or conditions that are diagnosed by EMG test?

1. Muscle disorders, such as muscular dystrophy, inflammatory myopathies

2. Neuromuscular Junction disorders, such as myasthenia gravis

3. Radiculopathies

4. Peripheral nerve disorders that affect the nerves outside the spinal cord, such as carpal tunnel syndrome

5. Motor Neuron disease / amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)